289

Record July 26"

An old-time Rocky mountain mail coach,
swung on its leather straps, with its boots full
of mail sacks, occupies a prominent position.
It was built in 1868 and was among the first
to carry the mail to Montana. Once a week it
made the run between Helena and Bozeman.
To-day four mail trains perform the service
daily. In 1877 the old coach was captured by
Indians, and after a hot pursuit by Gen. O. O.
Howard was recaptured. Before Gen. Garfield
became president he rode on the coach
through the Yellowstone country, President
Arthur sat on the boot with its driver in 1883
and Gen. Sherman in 1877 made a trip on the
ancient vehicle.

Near the old-timer is the modern yellow
bodied open coach used in the Yellowstone
park for carrying tourists and mail. It has
usurped the proud position once held by the
stage coach, which Indians used to capture.
The post rider, mounted on his spirited
broncho, armed with revolvers and booted and
spurred, tells of the letters carried over alkali
plains, broad prairies and wild western lands.
This mounted group is the admiration of the
small boys, who gaze on it with wide-open
eyes. The pony express was the original lettercarrier
across the plains, and to-day 1,000
mail routes use ponies and bronchos. The Indian
question was a most serious one to the
men who carried mail-bags through a country
swarming wíth redskins. In the dead-letter exhibit
is a mail-pouch stained with the blood of
a post rider and slashed by the keen blade of
the Indian murderer.

Record July 26"

An old-time Rocky mountain mail coach,
swung on its leather straps, with its boots full
of mail sacks, occupies a prominent position.
It was built in 1868 and was among the first
to carry the mail to Montana. Once a week it
made the run between Helena and Bozeman.
To-day four mail trains perform the service
daily. In 1877 the old coach was captured by
Indians, and after a hot pursuit by Gen. O. O.
Howard was recaptured. Before Gen. Garfield
became president he rode on the coach
through the Yellowstone country, President
Arthur sat on the boot with its driver in 1883
and Gen. Sherman in 1877 made a trip on the
ancient vehicle.

Near the old-timer is the modern yellow
bodied open coach used in the Yellowstone
park for carrying tourists and mail. It has
usurped the proud position once held by the
stage coach, which Indians used to capture.
The post rider, mounted on his spirited
broncho, armed with revolvers and booted and
spurred, tells of the letters carried over alkali
plains, broad prairies and wild western lands.
This mounted group is the admiration of the
small boys, who gaze on it with wide-open
eyes. The pony express was the original letter-
carrier across the plains, and to-day 1,000
mail routes use ponies and bronchos. The Indian
question was a most serious one to the
men who carried mail-bags through a country
swarming wíth redskins. In the dead-letter exhibit
is a mail-pouch stained with the blood of
a post rider and slashed by the keen blade of
the Indian murderer.